Washington has an abiding interest in continued peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, US Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Thursday in Beijing.
During a trip to China, Blinken met with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), and reiterated “the United States’ abiding interest in continued cross-strait peace and stability,” according to a statement issued by the US Department of State.
Blinken’s trip to Beijing followed a visit to Taiwan by former US deputy secretary of state William Burns on Sunday last week, one day after the nation elected its next president and legislature.
Burns met with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九); president-elect Tsai Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is also chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party; and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫), who resigned as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) after he lost in the presidential election.
Burns was sent to Taiwan to carry Washington’s message of hope for continued peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
While in Beijing, Blinken also met with Chinese officials for the second round of the Interim Strategic Security Dialogue.
The talks were cochaired by Blinken and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui (張業遂), and covered topics including issues of mutual interest, such as the response to North Korea’s recent nuclear test and maritime issues, the US Department of State said.
“The dialogue is designed to enhance mutual understanding of strategic security issues and reiterate the importance of continued in-depth, sustained and open communication, to further develop a stable and cooperative strategic security relationship between China and the United States,” it said.
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